A distant shout echoed through the alley, followed by running footsteps. Our escape from the vault hadn't gone unnoticed, and the search was expanding. The sound of boots on cobblestones grew closer, accompanied by gruff voices barking orders and organizing pursuit.
"Lead the way," Kira said, glancing nervously back toward the direction of the Merchant's Consortium building.
Twenty minutes later, we stood before what looked like the entrance to any other dungeon. A cave mouth set into a rocky hillside about a mile outside Ravengate's walls. But something was different about this one. The usual ominous aura was muted, and magical crystals had been carefully installed to provide steady, welcoming light rather than the harsh glare typically used to ward off unwanted visitors.
"Welcome to the Forgotten Sanctum," Morrigan said. "Abandoned for fifteen years after a catastrophic expedition. Officially, it's too dangerous to enter. Unofficially, I've spent considerable time making the upper levels habitable."
"You live in a dungeon?" Kira asked, her voice carrying a mixture of disbelief and grudging admiration.
"Sometimes. When surface accommodations become uncomfortable." Morrigan gestured toward the entrance. "The magical energies interfere with scrying and location spells. Perfect for storing sensitive materials and avoiding unwanted attention."
My Threat Assessment skill was pinging softly as we approached, detecting something that wasn't quite danger but wasn't entirely safe either. The dungeon might be partially cleared, but it was still a dungeon. A place where the natural laws operated differently and unexpected dangers could lurk in forgotten corners.
"How safe is 'habitable'?" I asked.
"The first three levels are secure. I've spent years mapping every chamber, neutralizing every trap, and eliminating every natural hazard." Her expression grew more serious. "Beyond that..." She shrugged with practiced nonchalance. "I haven't had reason to venture deeper. Yet. The original expedition records suggest there are at least seven levels, but the lower reaches remain unexplored since Torrhen's disaster."
We entered the dungeon mouth, and immediately I felt the familiar change in atmosphere. The air grew cooler and carried that distinctive underground smell of stone and something indefinably ancient. But there were differences too. The oppressive feeling of a living, hostile dungeon was absent, replaced by something more like a vast, empty house that had been carefully maintained by a dedicated caretaker.
"Stay close until you learn the layout," Morrigan instructed, producing a particularly bright light crystal from her robes. "The path is clearly marked, but it's easy to get turned around if you're not familiar with the route."
My Silent Movement skill activated automatically, muffling our footsteps as we descended. The passage was wider than most dungeon entrances I'd seen, with carved stone walls that spoke of deliberate construction rather than natural formation.
"What kind of dungeon was this?" I asked, , running my hand along the smooth stonework.
"Ancient temple complex," Morrigan replied. "Pre-dates the current city by centuries. When it first manifested as a dungeon, it attracted scholars and treasure hunters from across the kingdom." Her voice echoed strangely in the stone corridors. "The final expedition was led by Archmage Torrhen himself. Twenty of the kingdom's best adventurers went in. None came out."
"And you just moved in?"
"Not immediately. I spent months testing the upper levels, mapping safe routes, installing lighting and basic amenities." We passed through a chamber where someone had set up what looked like a rudimentary workshop, complete with tables and storage chests. "The deeper levels remain untouched. I'm not suicidal."
The passage opened into a larger chamber that had clearly been converted into living space. Comfortable furniture that looked salvaged from various sources, shelves lined with books and supplies, and several branching tunnels leading to what I assumed were other rooms.
"Impressive," I admitted. "How long have you been working on this?"
"Five years, on and off." Morrigan set her pack down and began lighting additional crystals. "Sometimes a person needs a place where the outside world can't reach them."
I found myself relaxing for the first time since the assassins had broken into my room. We were back in an environment I understood. Dangerous but predictable. Dungeons had rules. Surface politics were chaotic.
"Now then," Morrigan said, settling into a chair and pulling out several documents from her robes. "I believe I owe you some information about the Velvet Knives."
Kira and I leaned forward as she spread the papers on a central table.
"They're operating out of the old Silvermere district," Morrigan began. "Abandoned warehouse on Copper Street, three blocks from the docks. The building appears empty, but they've converted the basement into quite a sophisticated operation."
"How many?" I asked.
"The contract on you and Kira was taken by a team of four. Professional killers, not street thugs. They work in pairs typically, rotating shifts to maintain constant surveillance of their targets."
Morrigan traced a finger across one of her documents. "They maintain detailed schedules of your movements, preferred routes, associates. Very thorough."
I felt a chill. "They've been watching us?"
"Since the contract was placed, yes. Which means they've been tracking your movements around the city, mapping your routes, probably even observed our meeting at the Notice Board."
"But they don't know about this place?" Kira asked, gesturing around the chamber.
"The Forgotten Sanctum isn't on any official maps. As far as the surface world knows, this dungeon is a death trap to be avoided." Morrigan's smile was sharp. "Perfect cover for planning activities that require privacy."
"Actually," Kira said, slumping back in her chair, "before we start planning anything, can we catch our breath? We've been running on adrenaline for hours."
She was right. The vault heist, the escape, the trek here - it was all catching up with me. My legs felt like jelly, and even Morrigan looked tired, her usual energy replaced by the weariness of someone who'd pushed herself too hard.
I found a comfortable spot and let myself relax for the first time since the assassins had broken into my room. The dungeon felt safer than anywhere on the surface, and for a few minutes, I could actually think clearly.